Stenocereus pruinosus
| Pitaya de Mayo (Stenocereus pruinosus) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific name | Stenocereus pruinosus |
| Genus | Stenocereus |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
Stenocereus pruinosus, commonly called pitaya de Mayo, is a tree-forming columnar cactus native to Mexico. GBIF currently lists Stenocereus pruinosus as an accepted species name. [1]
Description[edit | edit source]
The species develops a tree-like form and is reported at about 4–5 m in height. It occurs in Mexican deciduous-forest settings at approximately 800–1900 m. The funnel-shaped flowers open at night. Fruits are elongated, about 6–12 cm long, and the flesh may be yellow, orange, red, or purple. [2]
The fruit and plant show meaningful local variation. A study of a centuries-managed Mixtec pitaya population in Tianguistengo, Oaxaca, identified 25 traditional landraces, with 10 described as the most popular. Fifteen variants were compared using 41 stem, flower, and fruit characters, and multivariate analysis grouped them into five morphological clusters. [3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
As a habitat-based inference from its Mexican deciduous-forest range, begin with a sharply draining root zone that can dry between active-growth waterings rather than remaining continuously wet. Adjust texture and irrigation to the container or ground site, rainfall, and season; a fixed interval should not be used as a species-wide rule. [2]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
The tree-forming habit and deciduous-forest setting support bright light and good airflow as a practical starting point. Acclimate plants gradually when moving from shade to stronger sun, and avoid stagnant, constantly wet conditions. This is a habitat-based inference rather than a fixed species-specific humidity threshold. [2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The deciduous-forest setting implies a marked wet–dry rhythm. As a cultivation inference, water more during active growth and allow a drier interval as growth slows, while letting local temperature, rainfall, and plant activity determine the timing rather than following a calendar schedule. [2]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
A dissertation experiment compared storage and burial of S. pruinosus seed. Seed held ex situ at 25 ± 3 °C, 20 ± 2% controlled humidity, in darkness, and at 7–9% water content retained viability through 24 months in that experiment. Buried seed began losing viability after six months; most had died by the end of the rainy season and none survived to the end of the dry season. These are condition-specific storage results, not a universal seed-storage recipe or sowing schedule. [4]
The landrace study concerns selection and morphological variation rather than cutting, rooting, grafting, or rootstock treatments. Propagation method should therefore remain tied to a documented provenance or trial instead of being treated as an interchangeable species rule. [3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The flowers open at night, and the elongated fruits are reported at about 6–12 cm long. Flesh color varies among yellow, orange, red, and purple forms. [2]
Farmers in the Tianguistengo population selected pitaya for fruit size and weight, fruit spines, yield per plant, harvest season, peel firmness, moisture, and fruit color. The study identified these as selection criteria; yield, harvest season, peel firmness, moisture, and fruit color were not evaluated in the reported analysis. [3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is edible and occurs in several flesh colors. In a refrigerated postharvest experiment, red and orange fruit differed in measured color, soluble-solids, phenolic, and antioxidant attributes. Thorn removal affected weight loss under the tested handling treatment, and the study estimated a refrigerated shelf life of 12–14 days from changes in firmness and antioxidant activity. That interval applies to the tested fruit and storage conditions, not to unrefrigerated fruit or every cultivar. [5]
Photos[edit | edit source]
.jpg)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [2] Stenocereus pruinosus.
- ↑ [3] Rosales-Bustamante, E. P.; Luna-Morales, C. del C.; Cruz-León, A. 2009. Traditional classification, selection, and morphological variation of land races of pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) in Tianguistengo, Oaxaca. Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura 15(1):75–82.
- ↑ [4] Guzmán Hernández, David Alejandro. Efecto del estrés oxidante en la viabilidad, germinación y vigor de semillas de Escontria chiotilla y Stenocereus pruinosus. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana dissertation record.
- ↑ [5] Rosas-Benítez, A.; Trujillo-Cárdenas, L.; et al. 2016. Quality attributes of pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) fruit handled in postharvest with and without thorns under refrigerated storage. Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura 22(3):191–207.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Stenocereus pruinosus.jpg — Stenocereus pruinosus near Santa Rita, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Creator: Amante Darmanin. CC BY 2.0, with attribution to the creator. File page: Wikimedia Commons.
- Stenocereus pruinosus (5729863325).jpg — Stenocereus pruinosus on the route toward Santa Rita from Rio Verde, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Creator: Amante Darmanin. CC BY 2.0, with attribution to the creator. File page: Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg){kind=link}